6,378 Previously Untested Sexual Assault Kits Processed

Florida Attorney General
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Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

6,378 Previously Untested Sexual Assault Kits Processed

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.­­––Attorney General Bondi today announced the latest progress report outlining the testing of thousands previously unprocessed sexual assault kits. According to the latest Sexual Assault Kit Progress Report released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 6,378 backlogged kits have been tested so far. State and private labs are testing the kits as part of an ongoing effort to process thousands of previously untested kits in Florida.

The state legislature approved initial funding to eliminate the backlog during Florida’s 2016 Legislative Session. During the session, Attorney General Bondi worked with law enforcement, prosecutors, survivors and state lawmakers to secure $2.3 million for testing, and additional funding to raise the wages of lab analysts to reduce turnover, purchase new forensic testing equipment and upgrade existing lab equipment.

Attorney General Bondi also supported legislation to help expedite the testing of all DNA evidence, including sexual assault kits. Now, Florida law requires all newly collected kits to be processed within 120 days of receipt. According to the latest report, FDLE has a 99.9 percent compliance rate with an average turnaround time of 85 days for newly received kits.